Biological collections are valuable and generally irreplaceable libraries of various types of wild or genetically modified biological material, including the maintenance of in vitro organisms, such as germplasm banks. Collections represent a wealth of information and the challenge is to catalog and care for biological reference materials.
These records are of diverse importance, whether for the study of biodiversity in its various approaches, including taxonomy, systematics, paleontology, evolution, biogeography, conservation, ecology, environmental monitoring, pollution, biological invasions, and climate change, or concerning public health, genetic improvement (e.g., agriculture), and combating bioterrorism. Collections also serve as a resource for the discovery and production of bioactive compounds and biotechnological applications in health, food, and industry. Collections are therefore essential for scientific and technological development and should be prioritized as an asset for understanding the past, present and future of biodiversity.
The creation of a Thematic Axis focused on Biological Collections is a structuring strategy to support the qualification of collections of biological material and to promote research, teaching, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This axis aims to contribute to the improvement, protection and expansion of access to scientific collections and information on biodiversity, under increasingly efficient conditions, for researchers in Brazil and abroad, taking into account specimens preserved in herbaria and zoological, paleontological and natural history museums; living organisms in zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens; strains of organisms in the laboratory and tissue and DNA samples, as well as access to data in digital repositories. Biota Collections aims to enhance the scientific and educational value of collections by promoting world-class curatorial standards, stimulating the use of existing collections, and expanding collections to contribute to the generation of knowledge about biodiversity (see Biota Discovery).
MAIN GOAL
To enhance and expand the holdings, access, and scientific production associated with biological collections in the world of molecular technologies and data automation.
CHALLENGES TO BE ADDRESSED
- Maintain, expand and modernize the physical infrastructure of the collections;
- Expand and diversify collections and collection use;
- Developing and maintaining tools and processes to expand digitization and remote access to collections;
- Training professional staff;
- Enhance and improve research and knowledge production derived from the collections;
- Promote teaching and dissemination of scholarship from the collections;
- Promote collaborative activities and the financial sustainability of the collections.
ACTIONS
- Support the updating and maintenance of the physical infrastructure and the digitization and remote access to the collections;
- Support scientific expeditions to priority environments, sites and/or biological groups to expand and diversify the collections;
- Encourage the production of knowledge derived from national and international collections and the development of methods and best practices for curation and management of collections;
- Integrate and promote the networking of biological collections, encouraging collaborative actions and the development of mechanisms for financial sustainability.
GOALS
- Launch at least two calls for infrastructure and multi-user equipment aimed at maintaining and improving biological collections by 2030;
- Launch at least one call every two or three years to subsidize scientific collecting and research expeditions using biological collections;
- Sponsor at least one event (e.g., seminar, webinar, workshop) every two years to promote research using biological collections, strengthening research infrastructure, and integration among biological collections.
